The Chief of Naval Operations has recently issued a formal directive which establishes the first of two US Navy MQ-4C Triton unmanned drone patrol squadrons.

As part of the US' "pivot" to the Asia-Pacific region, the US Navy is working towards reinforcing its maritime surveillance capability in the Pacific Ocean arena.

Janes reports that Bluefin Robotics is to supply a variant of its Knifefish heavyweight autonomous underwater vehicle to the US Navy's Naval Research Laboratory.

The US Army has begun upgrading aerostats outfitted with Logos Technologies' electro-optical and infrared Kestrel wide-area persistent surveillance system to protect forward operating bases in Afghanistan.

When the Australian Defence Force began looking into ways to enhance its UAV airborne surveillance capabilities, speed of deployment was a large influencing factor on the available options.

Delivery of the Joint Strike Fighter's more advanced blocks of capability remains years away, yet Air Force officials are beginning to develop operational tactics for the fifth-generation aircraft and are laying the groundwork for the beginning of operational testing in 2015.

The US Air Force's second Small Diameter Bomb is undergoing crucial flight tests, according to prime contractor Raytheon, who is currently evaluating the performance of the missile system's touted tri-mode seeker against Michigan's wintry weather.

Iranian State TV recently showed an unveiling ceremony for what the Iran Defense Ministry claims is a new Iranian designed and built combat aircraft.

Rheinmetall has been contracted to supply seven Fuchs/Fox armoured vehicles specially configured for detecting and identifying roadside bombs, mines.

Elbit Systems has teamed with Windward to offer integrated maritime solutions for the Indian authorities.

The US Coast Guard has exercised a contract option to purchase the service's 18th HC-144A Ocean Sentry Maritime Patrol Aircraft from prime contractor EADS North America.

British troops have deployed the Black Hornet nano unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) in Afghanistan.

The full version of Defence Week Premium no.238 of 31 January 2013 can be downloaded here as a PDF. A separate PDF of the latest Defence tenders can also be downloaded here.

Raytheon is being awarded a $158 million firm-fixed-price contract for the procurement of 48 MH-60R Airborne Low Frequency Sonar systems, including associated program management support, by Naval Air Systems Command.

Austal and Sembawang Shipyard have entered into a strategic partnership to provide market-leading sustainment capability to the US Navy.

News that the US Army has ordered MUOS field upgrades for GD's AN/PRC-155 manpack radio to enable it to communicate with the first MUOS satellite brings elements of the ADF's Battlefield Communications System, closer to achieving a 16-fold increase in their secure satellite communications capacity through use of mobile 3G technology.